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View Full Version : Add an emergency overflow to existing tank?


Bent
09/29/2015, 10:39 PM
This will be my last engineering question here.

So I have two durso standpipes on my 30g refugium in the basement. They are freaking me out dude.

Every night I go in there, the strainers are all but covered in junk and the water level is pretty darn high. One of these days they both are going to plug (when I'm on vacation most likely.)

My question is, I'd like to add a 2" emergency stand pipe just for piece of mind.

Can I drill the tank with water in it? I mean, obviously I would drain the silly thing below where I'm drilling, but will it hurt anything? Glass shards and such getting in the water?

Thanks.

trump024
09/30/2015, 10:23 AM
There is always a chance you can break the glass when you drill. I wouldn't recommend

Luca_Brasi
09/30/2015, 10:31 AM
I've done it. I wouldn't recommend it but I have done it.

Bent
09/30/2015, 10:40 AM
I guess from the water pressure pushing against it?

Luca_Brasi
09/30/2015, 12:23 PM
I don't recommend it because if the tank cracks, you will have a mess. I actually don't think the water pressure would matter too much. It may even help counter act the pressure the drill is putting on it.

I'm not saying to do it, just that it has been done successfully.

nuttyd
09/30/2015, 12:27 PM
A pic might help explain your issue a little bit more. Do you have an elbow or t at the top of the durso?

Bent
09/30/2015, 01:51 PM
A pic might help explain your issue a little bit more. Do you have an elbow or t at the top of the durso?

No.

They are just two bulkheads and two strainers.

nuttyd
09/30/2015, 03:18 PM
So bulkhead to elbow down then strainer or strainer straight into bulkhead?

Bent
09/30/2015, 05:56 PM
Oh sorry.

Just strainer straight into bulkheads.

Like this, only two of them.

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/Tackett1980/2221D5CB-2755-420F-94D0-C71912DC1D73.jpg

nuttyd
10/01/2015, 07:46 AM
if you are not worried about seeing the strainer, i would use an elbow to turn down and add an extended strainer like the ones durso makes. This gives you four times or more the area of the drain pipe rather than double for the smaller strainers. A lot less likely to get clogged. Just remember to drill a small air hole on the topside of the elbow to allow a vacuum break.

Sonicboom
10/01/2015, 11:51 AM
or this, http://customaquariums.com/c-2-h2overflow.aspx

nuttyd
10/01/2015, 01:57 PM
thats a nice product. might have to get one for my freshwater tank.

Sonicboom
10/01/2015, 02:10 PM
Before you do, check out Lowes or HD for floor drains, looks almost identical